Bija Bennett - Emotional Yoga: How the Body Can Heal the Mind

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Copyright 2002 by Bija Bennett
Photographs copyright 2001 by Lois Greenfield
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

F IRESIDE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Designed by Jill Weber
Manufactured in the United States of America

5 7 9 10 8 6

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN-13: 978-0-684-86277-4
ISBN -10: 0-684-86277-8
eISBN -13: 978-0-74323-406-1

This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subjects addressed in the publication. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering medical, health, or any other kind of personal professional services in the book. The reader should consult his or her medical, health, or other competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it.

The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book

T o my teachers,
especially T. K. V. Desikachar,
for continually inspiring me to
be a student of yoga,
and to Gary Kraftsow for
making it all come alive.

And to the memory of my sister,
Carol Hope Bennett.

S ensations sweet, felt in the blood, and felt along the heart;
And passing even into my purer mind,
With tranquil restoration: feelings too
Of unremembered pleasure: such, perhaps,
As have no slight or trivial influence
On that best portion of a good mans life...

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

Y our emotions are your inner guidance system. They alone will let you know whether you are living in an environment of biochemical health or in an environment of biochemical distress. Understanding how your thoughts and your emotions affect every single hormone and cell in your body, and knowing how to change them in a way that is health-enhancing, gives you access to the most powerful and empowering health-creating secret on earth.

CHRISTIANE NORTHRUP, M.D.

T HERE EXISTS WITHIN everyone a place of balanced awareness. In this book, Bija Bennett provides you with the tools to find this place, and create deeper states of emotional and physical well-being. Emotions are impulses of energy and intelligence. The ability to access your emotions allows you to tune in to an inner technology that operates from the most profound level of awareness. This can bring about powerful health changes.

Emotional Yoga goes beyond fitness; it is the yoga of emotional healing and health, teaching you how to actively stretch your emotions and become more emotionally balanced, flexible, and strong.

I have seen how transformative Bijas yoga teachings can be. I have watched her work with individuals in a clinical setting as well as with groups at my workshops around the country. She has a profound gift for making the spirit of yoga accessible. As she guides you in the pages of this book, you will learn to restore your bodys own healing ability and reestablish your essential balance.

DEEPAK CHOPRA, M.D.,
author, Grow Younger, Live Longer

I GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE and thank the many individuals who helped and supported me in creating this book:

My precious yoga teachers: T. K. V. Desikachar, Gary and Mirka Kraftsow, Sonia Nelson, Martin Pierce, Larry Payne, Richard Miller, and A. G. Mohan, for preserving the integrity of the yoga tradition while making it accessible.

My honored teachers in the fields of spirituality and dance: J. Krishnamurti, Anandamayi Ma, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Elizabeth Waters, Allegra Fuller Snyder, and Mrinalini Sarabhai, who ignited within me a passion to link the two.

Caroline Sutton, my editor at Simon & Schuster, for her impeccable clarity, direction, and skill, and for being instrumental in guiding my progress.

My literary agent and friend Lynn Franklin, whose passionate belief in this project has inspired me and carried me through.

Leslie Meredith, for her early encouragement to write this book. Rose Brandt, for her initial editorial input, and for providing me with the courage to begin and continue writing.

Nina Diamond, for her huge contribution as an editor, her loyal friendship, and hilarious sense of humor. Steve Singular, for his intuitive insight in helping me shape the manuscript. Jim Kelly, for his invaluable editorial assistance. Joyce Singular and Rebecca, for hours of revising. Melinda Powelson, for her excellent research. Reid Walker, for his unfailing technical support.

My mentors and friends: Bob Richards, for sharing his deep inner wisdom and powerful intelligence. Ken Wilber, for his generous advice and whose Integral vision I truly believe in. Dr. Candace Pert, for enriching my work with her scientific knowledge.

Dr. Deepak Chopra, for giving me the opportunity to teach beside him at his Journey to the Boundless and Mind-Body Training Seminars. The many yoga students, patients, and participants, for their appreciation and feedback.

Chuck and Jeri Little, and The Storyteller, for giving me a most valuable emotional tool, the Contemplation. Antonio Acuna, Svend Trier, and Chandra Jade Shankar, for their enormous capacity to inspire.

Tom Terwilliger and Chris Tetro for their outstanding coaching, constant encouragement, and keeping me in the best shape of my life. Dr. Bradley Boyd, Dr. Robert Svaboda, and Dr. Thiet Van Nguyen, for their invisible mending.

Lois Greenfield, for turning this book into a work of art. Everyone at the Lois Greenfield Studio, especially Henry Jesionka, Jack Deaso, Jen Greenwald, and Ellen Crane. Marsha Pinkstaff, for making it all happen. Jeff Woodruf, for creating the storyboard. Liam Dunn, for his radiant makeup art. Gordon Boswell, for the perfect hair. Timothy Rollins and Susan Miick, for their inspired artistic vision. Leslie Kaminoff, for his remarkable yoga coaching during the photography. Chris Grider, for his exceptional talent in the arts of yoga and dance.

Nicole Diamond at Simon & Schuster, for her immense support, and Joy OMeara Battista, for her true flexibility and talent as a designer.

Debby Addams, for providing me with high-level entertainment, astute comments, and extraordinary friendship. Robert, Jim, and John Addams, for being more a family than neighbors. Ann Canas, for her devoted friendship. Seyla Lim, for helping me stay on track. Bill Chrismer, for telling me to take a good look in the mirror. Bert Parlee, for his significant and wise counsel. Annie Brown, for her love, guidance, and empowerment. Holly Huppert, for keeping me buoyant. Jean-Jacques de Mesterton, for his ultrainspiring messages.